Smalltalk (Dancing Through Life, Gliyero/Flinda, mild Gelphie hate, featuring Boq)

Just what exactly were Galinda and Fiyero whispering about whilst they slow-danced at the Ozdust Ballroom?

Galinda was positive she had never been so happy in her life.

Everything had fallen into place. Shiz was a success; a beautiful, roaring, dizzying success. She had won – against all the odds…well…one 'odd' in particular – she had won. She was the worshipped queen, the jewel to be sought after, the beauty to be desired. Everyone – nearly, nearly everyone – adored her; she had more friends than she could ever want. Popsicle had sent her a suitcase of new dresses. She'd been invited to a party, down at the Ozdust ballroom. And, most important of all, there was the source of both the party and the invitation that came with it…

They were slow dancing. He had already kissed her, kissed her breathless, kissed her right out on the dance floor in front of everyone, her first kiss, her first kiss – the very thought built a squeal in her throat, a secret smile to her lips. She couldn't wait to tell Momsie. A Winkie prince – how proud she would be!

"So, hey – where's that roommate of yours tonight, then?" Fiyero murmured, swaying them both gently from side to side, in time with the music. Glinda frowned.

"I have no idea," she sniffed. There wasn't any subject on earth she would rather discuss less. Fiyero chuckled at her pout, bending to brush her lips with his in a kiss – my second, his second, our second! – that was over far too quickly for her liking. He chuckled as he drew away, sensing her disappointment.

"You enjoying the evening?"

"Mm-hm." She didn't want to open her eyes.

"Me too," he mumbled, almost too ready with an answer, almost rehearsed, almost too practiced. "Me too, Miss Upland."

His eyes didn't quite meet hers – he stared behind her, stared at something she couldn't see, something that giggled and click-clacked away, eliciting another chuckle from him. Glinda bit her lip. She wished she could be the only one to make him chuckle. She wished she was as good at this as he was. She wanted to seem that way; ready, confident. She wanted it to be perfect for him, too. A dream of his come true, just as it was for her.

Eagerly, she stretched up to round off their number of kisses at three, fastening her arms around his neck –

"Would you like some more – punch –?" a familiar, tremulous little voice queried from behind them. Galinda ducked her face swiftly against Fiyero's shoulder, feeling her cheeks warm. What would Momsie have thought of her, initiating such a public display of affection like that? Still…she couldn't help an odd, unexpected spike of irritation piercing the pit of her stomach at whomever it was for interrupting them.

Fiyero was coughing back a laugh.

"Um – what do you think?"

It wasn't really a statement that required an answer. Galinda was reminded, unpleasantly, of Elphaba's horrid rhetorical questions she never could understand. She sighed. Ugh, there she was again, ploughing her way into Galinda's thoughts, stamping all over her happiness with those big ugly boots of hers…

The punch boy was stammering, his voice shooting up a half-octave – how strangely familiar the sound was…perhaps he had asked her to go out with him, at some point or another…? She didn't dare show her face to check.

"I'm – dreadfully sorry – I thought that maybe Miss Galinda might –!"

"You thought wrong. Sorry, little guy."

Galinda giggled, dusting a curtain of ringlets across her face so the punch boy couldn't see, as her prince lead her away over to a more secluded corner. The music was quieter here, as were the chatters of the other couples – much more private. She put on her best pout, directing it up at him.

"That was such hideotious timing."

He grinned, but his eyes roamed far across the room, watching the latest gaggle of female students enter the ballroom. Galinda bit her lip, pressing herself a bit closer to him, beginning to sway them both in time with the music once again.

"Don't you think so, dearest?" she spoke up, when he still made no answer.

"Couldn't have put it better myself," came the mumbled answer, but he bent to kiss her again. "Let's continue where we left off…"

Glinda closed her eyes, and pretended she hadn't seen.